Empoli 3-1 Sassuolo: Saponara destroys Neroverdi after brilliant second half

Date: 22nd March 2015 at 2:24pm
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Empoli won 3-1 against Sassuolo at the Stadio Carlo Castellani at lunchtime on Sunday in Serie A.

Riccardo Saponara opened to scoring in the second half for the Azzurri, a Daniele Rugani own goal put the Neroverdi level and then Levan Mchedlidze and Saponara added to the scoreline.

Both teams played to attack in the first half but the defences were tough to break down. Empoli looked more in control of the play with their narrow, short-passing football while Sassuolo tried to attack down the wings, especially on the left.

Mirko Valdifiori had the first shot of the match with volley for Empoli that failed to hit the target and Sassuolo midfielder Saphir Taider had a cross shot easily caught by Azzurri goalkeeper Luigi Sepe.

Maurizio Sarri’s side were creating more chances in the final third. Federico Barba’s header from a corner missed the target and Valdifiori shot from long range but the ball just went wide.

Empoli midfielder Daniele Croce nearly scored an own goal after heading a Domenico Berardi free-kick but Luigi Sepe diverted the ball out.

Manuel Pucciarelli wasted a great chance to put the Azzurri 1-0 up when he dribbled in the box, delayed his shot and the eventual kick was saved by Andrea Consigli. The Sassuolo goalkeeper was also alert to save Saponara’s sliding shot.

The Neroverdi had a couple chances near the end of the first half. Simone Zaza failed to turn in Simone Missiroli’s low cross from the left-wing and Berardi had a shot that curled off target.

Empoli took the lead in the first minute of the second half thanks to Saponara. He controlled the ball down to the ground with his right foot, shrugged-off Francesco Magnanelli’s challenges and before three other defenders could pressure him, he struck a low, angled drive past Consigli.

Sassuolo equalised in the 50th minute after Berardi dribbled from the right-wing and his cross shot was deflected in by Rugani.

The Tuscans created two chances to regain the lead but Matias Vecino and Massimo Maccarone failed to hit the target with their chances.

Sarri’s men regained the lead after 59 minutes thanks to Mchedlidze, who had just replaced Maccarone in the Azzurri attack. From the right-wing, Mario Rui threw the ball to Saponara and he crossed low for the Georgian to slide-in and score.

The Tuscans went 3-1 up after 61 minutes when Croce ran from left-wing, played a through-ball for Saponara and the attacking midfielder scored with a first-time angled drive.

Sassuolo started to created chances of their own. Zaza ran onto Missiroli’s long-pass and his shot was blocked by Sepe and the Empoli goalkeeper had to save a Berardi cross shot.

Piotr Zielinski shot straight at Consigli after making a fabulous anticlockwise turn to beat his defender and Pucciarelli attempted a bending shot which flew over the bar.

 

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